The Final Movement of Evangelism

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

A rare historical note attributes the hymn "I Have A Friend So Precious, So Very Dear to Me" to one sung by the Waldenses in their Provencal language in the Dark Ages. The last stanza says, "He bids me tell His wondrous love, And why He came to die." Jesus tells us that if we can "lift [Him] up from the earth" on His cross, He "will draw all [people] to Himself" (John 12:32, 33).

What Jesus meant was that common people can win souls if they can simply tell "why He came to die." But of course they can't do that unless they themselves understand "why He came to die." Which means that we should let the Holy Spirit do what He wants--that is, teach us what happened on the cross. Which of course we won't agree to if we feel "rich and increased with goods, in need of nothing" (Rev. 3:17; He says He understands our root problem!).

This raises the question: is the final movement of evangelism prophesied in Revelation 18 to be what experts say on electronic communication via satellite TV? That's the easy way, we just sit and listen and push the right buttons. Or is it to be humble flesh-and-blood human beings like you and me opening their hearts to tell the message personally?

Of course, electronics and TV will have their part. Well, give science its rightful due, yes; but ordinary people like us must wake up and learn to understand what happened at Calvary so we personally can tell it. If we don't, He'll have to raise up children who will.

We can't really "tell His wondrous love" unless we understand "why He came to die." May the dear Lord grant us to see something: why Paul could only "glory in the cross," why he could tell others only of "Christ and Him crucified" (Gal. 6:14; 1 Cor. 2:1-3).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 26, 2004.

Copyright © 2012 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/dailybread/

To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.